Supreme Court Asks Panel To Verify Rehabilitation Claims Of Manipur Violence Victims' Families

The Supreme Court on Monday directed a committee appointed by it to verify claims that nearly 24,000 families affected by the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur are still awaiting benefits under government rehabilitation and welfare schemes. The court was hearing matters related to the rehabilitation of people who lost homes, dwelling units and sources of livelihood during the prolonged violence. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the directions after hearing submissions from lawyers representing affected people. The bench took note of submissions, including those made by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, that several violence-hit tribal families had not received the benefits promised under rehabilitation and welfare programmes.

The court asked its appointed committee to verify the claims and assess the status of affected families. The exercise is expected to help establish the number of eligible beneficiaries who remain outside the government's rehabilitation measures and identify any gaps in implementation. The court also reviewed steps already taken by the government to assist families whose houses were destroyed or damaged during the violence. It noted that funds had been disbursed to more than 4,000 beneficiaries out of around 7,000 identified beneficiaries for reconstruction of houses. Under the rehabilitation scheme, the government provides ₹5 lakh for rebuilding a kutcha house and ₹7 lakh for a semi-pucca or pucca house.

According to submissions noted by the bench, more than 12,000 houses have so far been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for families affected by the violence. Senior advocate Vibha Dutt Makhija, appearing for the Justice Gita Mittal Committee, placed before the court details of the measures undertaken for rehabilitation. The bench also noted that temporary shelters had been constructed for displaced families. The court was further informed that ₹51.95 crore had been released for 885 identified beneficiaries for the construction of permanent houses.

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The figures indicate that government agencies have taken several steps towards restoring housing for families displaced by the conflict, although the Supreme Court's direction to verify claims indicates that questions remain over whether all eligible victims have received the promised assistance. The Supreme Court also asked the Manipur and Assam governments and other concerned authorities to consider establishing two special trial courts to exclusively deal with cases arising from the violence and investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The proposal is aimed at ensuring that cases connected with the violence are handled through dedicated judicial mechanisms and can be processed efficiently.

The direction comes in the broader context of the Supreme Court's continuing monitoring of rehabilitation and legal proceedings connected with the Manipur violence. The conflict, which began in May 2023, resulted in deaths, injuries, displacement and extensive damage to homes and property. Thousands of people were forced to leave their residences and seek shelter in relief camps or temporary accommodation. The court's latest intervention places emphasis on both rehabilitation and accountability. While the government has reported progress in reconstruction and financial assistance, the committee's verification exercise will examine claims from families who say they remain excluded from welfare and rehabilitation benefits. This could provide the court with a clearer picture of the implementation of schemes on the ground.

The proposed special trial courts could also have implications for the pace at which criminal cases arising from the violence are heard. By considering dedicated courts for CBI- and NIA-investigated cases, the authorities could provide a focused judicial forum for matters involving serious offences connected with the conflict. The Supreme Court's directions are expected to result in further verification of rehabilitation claims and continued monitoring of government measures. The court will assess the findings and progress in subsequent hearings as it examines whether affected families have received the housing, financial and welfare assistance to which they are entitled.

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